Adjustable applicator and cleaner



July 25, 1967' w. H. CASE ADJUSTABLE APPLICATOR AND CLEANER Filed March 25, 1965 FIG 2 FIG 5' FIG 4 mum United States Patent 3,332,103 ADJUSTABLE APPLICATOR AND CLEANER William Hayes Case, 308 S. 2nd St., Marshalltown, Iowa 52158 Filed Mar. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 442,623 Claims. (Cl. -511) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable applicator and cleaning tool having a tubular mounting shaft with a hollow flexible sleeve-cover protruding from one end thereof and a flexible applicatorsleeve within the applicator sleeve-cover slidably connected to an axis control rod which is slidably and rotatably mounted within the tubular mounting shaft so that relative sliding or rotational movement between said axis control rod and said tubular mounting shaft will impart movement to and cause a change of position in the applicator sleeve and the applicator sleeve cover.

This device has a handle and applicator-sleeve so arranged that the said sleeve adjusts to a variety of shapes and positions and can be made to rotate in all shapes and positions by mechanical controls of the handle assembly. Also said sleeve can be caused to assume rigid or flexible state by means of said controls. A cover adaptable to the task being performed, is fitted over said sleeve and attached securely to the handle. The adaptability of this applicator and cleaning tool makes it easy to contact and treat surfaces neglected due to inaccessability. Said tool can be used to paint, clean, dust, or treat surfaces in accordance with type of cover and material to be applied to said surfaces.

Description of drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective drawing of the adjustable applicator and cleaner. Reference 1 identifies the axis-control-rod. Reference 2 identifies the tubular-mountingshaft. Reference 3 identifies the flexible-applicator-sleeve in the sectional views. Reference 4 identifies the applicator-sleeve-cover.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional drawing of FIG. 1 showing axis-control-rod 1 in an advanced position with the extremity of said rod shaped to cause an angular extension of flexible-applicator-sleeve 3 when said rod is pulled back from advanced position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional drawing of the assembly in FIG. 2 showing axis-control-rod 1 retracted to cause complete angular extension of flexible-applicator-sleeve 3.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional drawing of the assembly in FIG. 2 showing attachment of pressure fed material hose (ref. 5).

Detailed description The adjustable applicator and cleaner is shown in four views in the accompanying drawing (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4). The applicator-sleeve 3 is made of springy, flexible material with enough rigidness to support sleeve-cover 4 in the specific task to be performed, such as dusting, painting, washing, steel wooling, greasing, sanding or applying material such as plaster. Coiled wire extension-spring is used for said sleeve as shown in the various views of the drawing. This does not exclude other material which can produce the same action. Said sleeve is fitted securely to the tubular-mounting-shaft 2.

The tubular-mounting-shaft 2 is of material rigid enough to support said sleeve and said cover in the stress and strain of the task to be performed 'without breaking or bending and should be light weight enough to make an eflicient and comfortable tool. Said mounting-shaft should be long enough to reach surface to be treated.

The axis-control-rod 1 should in general be of rigid ma terial with enough pliability to bend a leverage hand control on one end and a sleeve guide on the other end. The leverage hand control is formed first in said rod, then said rod is inserted in and extends the entire length of mounting-shaft 2 and attached applicator-sleeve 3. The extremity of said rod in said sleeve can be straight, or bent at the point of entry into said sleeve or bent just enough at the tip end to guide the said sleeve into angular extension from the axis line of the mounting-shaft. Each of the described positions of the said rod have special advantages.

Where the said rod remains straight, the operator can control the flexibility of the said applicator-sleeve by moving said rod in or out of said sleeve. When said rod is bent at tip end, the operator may cause the said sleeve to be extended angularly the distance which the said rod is retracted from said sleeve. In both instances the said sleeve becomes flexible when the said rod is retracted from sleeve. By bending the said control-rod the full length of said applicator-sleeve, said rod cannot be retracted and said sleeve remains rigid, but said applicator-sleeve can be rotated even though angular in form by holding said axis-control-rod stationary and rotating tubular-mountingshaft 2. Rotation of said sleeve aids in accumulation of material and application and complete contact with surface to be treated.

Applicator-sleeve-cover 4 may be of a variety of materials, shapes, and degrees of pliability according to the task. Lambs wool, steel wool, yarn, natural and artificial fibers and various fabrics and material may be used in said sleeve-cover.

Applicator can be attached by means of a suitable flexible hose to a supply of paint or liquid and by force of gravity or a pressurized container, material can 'be applied fast and efliciently. FIGURE 4 shows said adjustable-applicator with flexible hose 5 attached. Applicator-sleeve 3 and cover 4 in assembly (FIG. 4) must be perforated to allow material to be pressure fed if said sleeve and cover are of unpermeable material.

By extending applicator-sleeve and cover as shown in FIG. 3, material can be easily absorbed from a shallow container. Rotation of said sleeve aids in absorbing and applying material to surfaces.

By substituting a flexible material such as multi-strand picture-wire for axis-control-rod 1 and attaching said wire securely to extremity of applicator-sleeve composed of wire compressor-spring encased in flexible rubber tubing or similar material, a species of the adjustable applicator is effected. By drawing back on said wire, said sleeve assumes an annular form. A novel and useful duster and cleaner is the result.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described,

a tubular mounting'shaft,

a hollow flexible sleeve member secured to one end of mounting shaft and extending outwardly therefrom with the interior of said tubular mounting shaft being in communication with the interior of said hollow sleeve member,

a hollow flexible sleeve element in said sleeve member,

and an axis-control rod slidably mounted in said tubular mounting shaft and extending into said hollow sleeve element so that withdrawal of said rod from a portion of said sleeve element will render flexible said portion and the coextensive portion of said sleeve member, and insertion of said rod into said sleeve element will render rigid the portions of said sleeve element and said sleeve member that are coextensive with the inserted portion of said rod.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said rod is bent with respect to its longitudinal axis within said sleeve element so that the bend in said rod will move at least a portion 3 4 of the length of said sleeve element and said sleeve mem- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said sleeve element is her to an angular position with respect to said tubular a flexible coil spring. mounting shaft upon sliding movement of said rod within said mounting shaft. References Cited 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said axis control rod 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS li lif g gfigg and mtatably mounted sald tubular 1,154,369 9/1915 Browning 15160 4. The device of claim 1 wherein a hose means is con- 2680261 6/1954 Sorensan 15 160 X nected to said hollow tubular shaft, the interior of said CHARLES A 'WILLMUTH Primary Examiner hose means being in communication with the interior of 10 said shaft and said sleeve member. E. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner- 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A TUBULAR MOUNTING SHAFT, A HOLLOW FLEXIBLE SLEEVE MEMBER SECURED TO ONE END OF MOUNTING SHAFT AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR MOUNTING SHAFT BEING COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOLLOW SLEEVE MEMBER, A HOLOLOW FLEXIBLE SLEEVE ELEMENT IN SAID SLEEVE MEMBER, AND AN AXIS-CONTROL ROD SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID TUBULAR MOUNTING SHAFT AND EXTENDING INTO SAID HOLLOW SLEEVE ELEMENT SO THAT WITHDRAWAL OF SAID ROD FROM A PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE ELEMENT WILL RENDER FLEXIBLE 